Older Remington 40X barrel quality

4

404tbang

Member
Hi,
Were older 40X barrels (circa mid to late 1960's) supposed to have been high quality? I've read that they were button rifled and comparable to Hart barrels of the same time. Would an older "low mileage" 40X barrel be worth putting on a Remington 700 in the hope of getting decent quality for a reasonable price?

Thanks!

Greg
 
Pretty sure you would have to just try it and see. Barrels are different from one barrel to the next and any answer would simply be a guess.
 
I think its more than just a good barrel?

From Remington -
What is the difference between the Model 700 action & the Model 40-X action?

Updated 04/21/2010 09:33 AM


The 40X differs from the 700 in the fact that all the parts have been blueprinted, the barrel is a button rifled, hand-lapped, air-gauged match barrel. An airgauged barrel has had the bore diameter checked by inserting an appropriately sized probe into the bore to measure the inside diameter. The probe is connected to an air operated gauge that can measure to within a half of a thousandths of an inch.

The trigger is an adjustable match trigger that goes down to a 1 1/2 pound trigger pull.

Every 40X is targeted from the shoulder to assure accuracy.
Click to expand...
 
243winxb said:
I think its more than just a good barrel?

From Remington -
Click to expand...

Well, I guess Remington's definition of "blueprinting" is a tad misleading.

Any Gunsmith, or Machinist who has ever checked a 40x action will tell you that the criticle areas are no more true with each other than a standard Remington 700.

The barrels may be a different story. Since it just might screw on wth no problems, (aside from the barrel markings not beingin the correct location), it might by worth the effort.

Just be sure and check the headspace.
 
40Xs are now coming out of the Remington Custom Shop Division of Dakota Arms. Remington Shipped them all the barrel making equipment, but no one that knew how to use it transferred out there. A good friend of mine retired as one of the last Custom Shop managers in Ilion and I think back in the 60s you might find better specimens that those that came out of there a few years back.

I was fortunate that although I ordered my 40X Custom rifle form the Ilion Custom shop, the order was moved to Dakota Arms and they called me to tell me about the barrel situation and asked if I would mind getting the rifle with a Krieger Barrel, so I said, I will be disappointed (not) but will accept it that way. They did a supper job and the test target that came with it was amazing, especially considering the put a Bushnell 3x9 scope on a temporary mount on it.

This year it is going with me to the Williamsport 1,000 Yard Bench Rest School and I will see what it can do.

Bob
 
This one is in 6mmBR Norma. Not the best for 1,000 yards, but I will shoot it mainly at 300 and 600. I will consider setting the barrel back and rechambering as a 6mm Dasher if I am unhappy. The custom shop also used the reamer I specified and now own.

Bob
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top